Ubisoft’s next flagship action-adventure title has been revealed as Assassin’s Creed Valhalla, taking its name and setting into new directions through ninth-century Viking battles.
Players take on the character of Eivor, a raider among a deadly Viking clan sailing through Norway to build a settlement. Waiting for Eivor are massive English forces who’ve decided to take up arms and stop him from claiming a variety of mysterious structures in the game’s open world. Its premise also sets the grounds for the series’ traditional gameplay, from free-roaming through vast shorelines and exploring plains of greenery shrouded by a cloudy backdrop. The Viking setting also paves the way for Norse mythology, with Ubisoft dipping their toes into the culturally supernatural since Origins. It’s likely through the main campaign we’ll encounter some familiar figures, including Odin who guides Eivor and his armies through victory.
Valhalla was revealed through a live art painting done across a morning by designer BossLogic, who slowly created longboats, beards and axes according to the game’s setting. A trailer followed a day after and showed more of Valhalla‘s range as a game to explore and battle in.
Its cinematic trailer showed a contrast to how the English viewed Vikings, while teasing players with the ability to make smart choices in their conquest. Eivor can also lead his own Viking fleet into battle, against both standard troops and heavier enemy types which require strategy to beat. The critical thinking can also mean life or death in the heat of battle. Saving the day is a familiar tool absent from Odyssey; the Hidden Blade is returning as a weapon which can be used in close quarters for quick kills when all else fails. It’s a welcome sight to see as the signature weapon of the series was reserved as downloadable content in the last game.
But Assassin’s Creed Valhalla is looking to stick back to its formulas while introducing castle raids into the battles. Players will be storming English territory while hammering defenses with longboats. A collection of loot also waits for players if they succeed, helping to upgrade Eivor and his abilities.
Its website also states many RPG mechanics are being doubled-down for Valhalla, while players are likely to be given more customization to play the game however they want it to look and feel. This also affects its core gameplay, in which players can choose to go into a fight without making a sound, or all-in with a battle cry and warriors on command. The results of each also lead to a choice in taking no prisoners or forming alliances for benefits.
The fruits of your labour hit home as Eivor can upgrade new settlements and open new shops for abilities. Series’ staples including the blacksmith and harbormaster all come back in their own versions for Valhalla, reminding players much of the replay value comes in progression. A tattoo parlor is even available to let players decorate Eivor with various designs. The customization also extends to its own multiplayer features and custom raiders can make an appearance with friends to sail the world together.
Assassin’s Creed Valhalla is on its way for Holiday 2020, and comes in a whopping five editions players can pre-order now for current generation consoles and the PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X.
Its Standard Edition comes alone while a Gold Edition is bundled with the season’s pass. The Gold Steelbook Edition comes with a limited edition box for the game disc while its Ultimate Edition comes with special items to help players in the game. Finally, the Collector’s Edition comes with a special statue and all of the bonuses stated before.
